A possible interpretation of the optical spectrum for BL Lac-type objects

On the basis of Sobolev's method, the population of 30 levels of hydrogen atom is determined allowing for the radiative and collision processes of the heating and ionization of the medium with velocity gradient gradv=10^–9–10^–11s^–1, electron temperatureT _e=10⁴ K-2×10⁴ K and electron densityN _e=10¹⁰ cm^–3–10¹¹ cm^–3. The central source radiation is characterized by a power spectrum with spectral indices varying from 0 to 2. A region of possible physical conditions is found where the thermal diffuse radiation of the envelope exceeds the emission in the Balmer H line.     

Circumstellar clouds derived from the 2800 Mgii data

As a result of the analysis of the observed interstellar 2800 Mgii absorption line data, an empirical relationship — a positive correlation — between the equivalent widthW(2800) and the effective temperature of the starT was discovered (Figure 1). However, in the case when this doublet is of stellar (photospheric) origin, only a negative correlation betweenW(2800) andT exists. Hence, the existence itself of such a positive correlation betweenW(2800) andT may be viewed as incomprehensible for the present influence of the star on the strength of the absorption line 2800 Mgii of nonstellar origin.On the other hand, we have evidence that the ionizing radiation of hot stars cannot provide for the observed very high degree of ionization of the interstellar magnesium. In particular, the observations give for interstellar magnesium the ratioN ⁺/N ₁ 1000, while in the case of ionization under the action of stellar radiation only we haveN ⁺/N ₁ 10.The assumption that circumstellar clouds surround hot stars can naturally explain these and other similar facts. A method for the determination of the general parameters-size, concentration, mass etc. — of the circumstellar clouds is developed. The main results of the application of this method to the relation of more than 20 hot stars are:(1) The circumstellar clouds surround almost (70%) all hot giants and subgiants. In the remaining (30%) cases, the absence of circumstellar envelopes requires additional evidence. (2) The linear sizes of circumstellar clouds vary within wide ranges — from 0.002 pc up to 1 pc. Most frequent are clouds with size of 0.1 pc. (3) The main concentration of hydrogen atoms (electrons) in circumstellar clouds is of the order of 100 cm^–3; the minimum value is 20–30 cm^–3, the maximum 10⁴ cm^–3. In one case (Deneb) the electron concentration rises up to 10⁵ cm^–3 for the size of the cloud 0.001 pc=3×10¹⁵ cm. (4) Stars of the same spectral and luminosity classes may possess circumstellar clouds characterized by quite different parameters. (5) Hydrogen in circumstellar clouds is completely ionized; for these clouds the optical depth _c 1; on the average,T _c 0.005. (6) The integrated brightness of circumstellar clouds is substantially fainter (by 8–10^m) than that of the central star. This is the reason why these clouds cannot be detected by ground-based observations. (7) The masses of individual circumstellar clouds vary from 1 down to 10^–4 . This gives for the mass ejection rate from 10^–10 to 10^–6 per year in case if these clouds are formed by the braking and accumulation of the ejected mass.The method of 2800 Mgii seems very convenient, fruitful and promising for the detection and study of circumstellar envelopes. Also, this method is very sensitive for a determination of the general parameters of such clouds, and concerns practically all their geometric, physical, kinematic and other properties.     

Hot intercloud gas in the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies

Physical conditions are found for a hot intercloud gas in the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies. The gas temperature is determined by photoionization and Compton-scattering of the shortwave radiation of the nucleus. Using observational data for the coronal emission line [Fe x] 6374 Å, the gas densityn=10⁴cm^–3 and temperatureT=10⁶K, typical for the distance 2 pc from the central source, are obtained. It is shown that the intercloud gas is in the state of accretion by the nucleus with a rateM10^–2 M yr^–1.     

Structure investigations of 3C 196 and 3C 280 in the decameter waveband

Observational results are presented concerning the structure of the quasar 3C 196 and the radio galaxy 3C 280 at 20 and 25 MHz, obtained by the scintillation method with the URAN-1 interferometer. Angular dimensions of the scintillating components and extended regions of the sources have been evaluated. In the case of the quasar 3C 196, the effective angular size of the scintillating component equals 2±1 _. 5 and that of the extended region 18×25.The contribution of the compact component into the total radiation flux is 0.46±0.20. Spectra of the structural formations in 3C 196 have been obtained in the range 20–5000 MHz.For the radio galaxy 3C 280 the effective angular size of the scintillating component equals 1 _. 5±1 _. 2. and that of the extended region exceeds 10 _. The contribution into the total flux due to the scintillating part is 0.35±0.20.The data obtained are analyzed together with the results measured at higher frequencies. It is pointed out that in a wide frequency range, the effect of wave scattering in the interstellar medium does not exceed measurement errors,hence bringing about no increase in the compact component sizes of the sources observed.     

Space-time profile variations of some spectral lines and their influence upon doppler velocity measurements

A technique for high-sensitivity measurements of spectral line profile fluctuations is suggested. Observations with spectral lines most commonly used to study the oscillations have been carried out. It is found that 5-min and 3-min fluctuations of Fei 5123, 5250, 5434 and NaDi 5896 line profiles are able to produce signals equivalent to line-of-sight velocities of 1–5 m s^–1 at a spatial resolution of 5 and 10–35 m s^–1 at 1.5 × 4 resolution. Such observations permit a better understanding of the particular physical factors responsible for the oscillations of line-of-sight velocity signals and the magnetic field which are the subject of study of helioseismology.     

A possibility to useCi infrared absorption lines for determination of the background radiation temperature at earlier cosmological epochs

A method for the determination of the background radiation temperature in earlier cosmological epochs at redshiftsz>2 is discussed in detail. The method is based on the fact that in the clouds situated at cosmological distances at redshiftz the background radiation temperature must be (1+z) times more than in the modern epoch (z=0). This shall affect the level populations of the atoms, ions and molecules and, consequently, the parameters of the absorption lines observed in quasar absorption spectra. It is proposed to use the transition³ P ₀–³ P ₁ ofCi (=610 ) for the measurement of the background radiation temperature. Atz>2 this absorption line shifts to the millimeter radio region and can be observed by radioastronomical methods.     

Photoionization models of QSO's intervening absorption clouds

A new sufficiently compact code LINESPEC is described which is designed to determine the kinetic (collisional+photo) ionization equilibrium in a slab of a hot (T10⁴K) rarefied gas, and to simulate synthetic absorption-line spectra formed due to passing continuous radiation (from a quasar) through the slab. Eighty-six resonant absorption lines of ions and atoms of H, He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Fe are included with wavelengths in the range 9125000 Å. the behaviour and observability of various lines are analysed as a function of intensity of the ionizing radiation and kinetic plasma temperature (for a power-law spectrum of ionizing photons,N _ph (E) E ^– with =1.5;E is photon energy). For the purely collisional ionization (N _ph =0), the spectrum contains various combinations of absorption lines of hydrogen and/or of atoms and ions of other elements, the relative intensities of the lines being strongly temperaturedependent. If the ionizing radiation is intense enough, the L line dominates. In a wide parameter range L may be the only line visible in the UV spectral range.     

Cosmic ray studies with a gas Cherenkov counter in association with an ionization spectrometer

The results from a ballon-borne gas Cherenkov counter (threshold 16.5 GeV nuc^–1) and an ionization spectrometer are presented. The gas Cherenkov counter provides an absolute energy calibration for the response of the calorimeter for 5Z26 nuclei of cosmic rays. The contribution of scintillation to the gas Cherenkov pulse height has been obtained by independently selecting particles below the gas Cherenkov threshold using the ionization spectrometer. Energy spectra were derived by minimizing the ² between a Monte Carlo simulated data and flight data. Best fit power laws (dN/dE=AE ^–) were determined for C, N, O, Ne, Mg, and Si. The power laws, all consistent withE ^–2.7, are not good fits to the data. A better fit is obtained using the spectrum derived from the spectrometer. The data from the ionization calorimeter (Simonet al., 1979) and the gas Cherenkov are thus completely self-consistent.On sabbatical leave from the University of Maryland.     

A maximal background spectrum of gravitational radiation

A maximal spectrum of gravitational radiation from sources outside our galaxy is calculated. The sources are galaxies, quasars and events that occur in the early history of the universe. The major contribution is from galaxies whose effect extends over the frequency region 10^–810⁺⁴Hz, peaking at 10^–110 Hz, with a spectral flux of 10 erg cm^–2, s^–1. The main processes of gravitational radiation in the galaxies are stellar collapse into a black hole and dying binary systems. In the region 10^–410⁴ Hz the background spectrum is well above the detection levels of currently proposed detectors. FromMinimal considerations of this spectrum it is determined that the density of gravitational radiation is 10^–39g cm^–3. This background spectrum is sensitive to galactic evolution and especially sensitive to the upper mass limits and mass distribution of stars in galactic models. Therefore, the spectrum could provide information about galactic evolution complementary to that obtained by electromagnetic investigations.     

The interrelationship between cosmic dust and the microwave background

Attention is given to the radiation of microwaves by charged dust in space. Presently-used particle distributions do not restrict the presence in space of large numbers of small (r<10^–6 cm) silicate grains, but it is shown that such densities (10^–25–10^–26 g cm^–3) of small grains would produce a microwave background with an energy density of the same order of magnitude as the energy density of the (presumed) cosmological 3 K background. Limits set by the isotropy of the latter are: (HI clouds)10^–26, (Galactic plane)10^–30, (Halo)10^–32, (Local Group)10^–34 g cm^–3. These limits imply that either there is a cutoff in particle distributions atr10^–6 cm, or that the density of silicate grains in space has been generally overestimated, or that cosmic rays have broken up a lot of grains so that they now form a population of grains of very small size (10^–7 cm) which are difficult to detect by conventional methods. One way to look for the latter population is by studying expected distortions of the 3 K spectrum to the short wavelength side of the portion hitherto observed (grains may have a size distribution able to give an approximate black-body curve for radiation from larger grains of 10^–6 cm size), and by testing the effective energy density of the 3 K field in other galaxies.     

Echelle-mepsicron time-resolved spectroscopy of the dwarf nova SS Cygni

High dispersion time-resolved spectrograms of the dwarf nova SS Cygni, obtained with the Echelle-Mepsicron system, show double peaked emission lines with a complex profile. The intensity of the H line appears to be modulated by the orbital period. Radial velocity measurements of the wings of H and of the absorption line system of the late-type star yield semiamplitude values of K_em=101±6 km s^–1 and K_ab=151±7 km s^–1, respectively. Radial velocity measurements of the blue and red peaks and of the central absorption of H reveal a synchronous movement with the broad wings, although there is some evidence of a narrow component probably associated with a hot spot in the disk or a chromospheric emission line from the secondary star. The H modulation, the double profile and recently discovered UBV light variations support an inclination angle i 50°. The masses of the primary are M_p=0.60 M and M_s=0.40 M, respectively. A detailed analysis of the absorption lines reveals a spectral type of K2V.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Investigation of galaxy and quasar luminosity evolution in the model of standard cosmology

It is shown that the Hubble curvem(z) for galaxies and quasars averaged over a large volume of data forms in the first approximation a single continuous curve in the interval of red shifts 10^–2.5z4.5, which is satisfactorily described by the dependence .A large deviation of the observed mean dependence from the theoretical one predicted by the standard cosmology is explained by the evolution of the galaxy and especially quasar luminosity. The corresponding mid-statistical function of the absolute luminosity variation for the last 4/5 times of existence in the Universe is equal toM(z)–M(z ₀)=logz/z ₀+2z–0.4z ².The luminosity of the most far distant from the observed quasars on the average by 5–6 stellar magnitudes high than the luminosity of near galaxies and quasars. It is obtained that even the most far distant quasars atz5 are in the maximum of luminosity, or their extinction has just began, thus the quasar formation should be expected forz>(5–6). The relative rate of the luminosity decrease of galaxies and near quasars is rather accurately amounts in the recent epoch 7% per 10⁹ years. The obtained average Hubble curve of galaxies and quasars is evidently the main cause of their evolution in the Universe.     

A search for steep low-frequency radio spectra among quasars and clusters of galaxies

Using published flux densitiesS at low frequenciesv, radio spectra were constructed for 3C, 4C, and 4CT radio sources in Abell clusters of galaxies, radio galaxies outside Abell clusters, and quasars with known redshifts. About half the sources in rich Abell clusters (richness classesR>-2) have steep spectra between 38 and 178 MHz with spectral indices ₃₈ ¹⁷⁸ > whereSv ^–. However, radio galaxies outside clusters have values of ₃₈ ¹⁷⁸ 1.2, and no steep spectra were found among 170 quasars. The radio sources in rich clusters are probably confined by intergalactic gas, and the steep spectra develop over a period of 10⁹ yr as relativistic electrons lose energy. The absence of steep spectra among quasars does not necessarily mean that quasars never occur in rich clusters of galaxies, since quasars are probably being observed only in their early high-luminosity phases. The possibility that some quasar events occur in the nuclei of the dominant cD galaxies in clusters is discussed, but quasar events may occur in more than one type of galaxy.     

Cosmic neutrinos of ultra-high energies and detection possibility

The fluxes and spectra of galactic and extragalactic neutrinos at energy 10¹¹–10¹⁹ eV are calculated. In particular, the neutrino flux from the normal galaxies is calculated taking into account the spectral index distribution. The only assumption that seriously affects the calculated neutrino flux atE _v 10¹⁷ eV is the power-like generation spectrum of protons in the entire considered energy region.The normal galaxies with the accepted parameters generate the metagalactic equivalent electron component (electrons+their radiation) with energy density _e8.5×10^–7 eV cm^–3, while the density of the observed diffuse X-ray radiation alone is 100 times higher. This requires the existence of other neutrino sources and we found the minimized neutrino flux under two limitations: (1) the power-law generation spectrum of protons and (2) production of the observed energy density of the diffuse X-an -radiation. These requirements are met in the evolutionary model of origin of the metagalactic cosmic rays with modern energy density _M83.6×10^–7 eV cm^–3.The possibility of experiments with cosmic neutrinos of energyE _v 3×10¹⁷ eV is discussed. The upper bound on neutrino-nucleon cross-section <2.2×10^–29 cm² is obtained in evolutionary model from the observed zenith angular distribution of extensive air showers.In Appendix 2 the diffuse X-and -ray flux arising together with neutrino flux is calculated. It agrees with observed flux in the entire energy range from 1 keV up to 100 MeV.     

Astron observations of the Rapid Burster MXB 1730-335 and constraints on burster parameters from spectra of trailing bursts

We report on eight X-ray bursts detected by ASTRON from the Rapid Burster (RB) on 13 and 28 April and 16 August, 1983. Six of them (trailing bursts), with durations of 1.5–2 min, rise times of 5–10 s and intervals of 1–1.5 hours, exhibit spectral softening during the burst decay and may be related to the type I bursts. Two of the bursts (triangle bursts) observed on 28 April at interval of 28 min with much longer rise times (30–50 s) and longer durations (3 min), do not show distinct spectral softening. Persistent flux from RB on 16 August was estimated asF _p(2.0–2.4)×10^–9 erg cm^–2 s^–1. Spectral evolution of two trailing bursts was investigated by fitting their spectra in consecutive time intervals with the blackbody (BB), isothermal scattering photosphere (SP) and thermal bremsstrahlung (TB) models. Around the burst maxima the SP model fits the data best whereas in the burst tails the TB model is generally better. The BB model is worse than at least one of the two others. Interpretation of the burst spectra in terms of the BB radiation leads to improbably small neutron star mass and radius (M<0.86M ,R _NS<5 km) if the peak luminosity does not exceed the Eddington limit. Interpretation of the spectra around the burst maxima (3–15 s from the burst onset) in terms of an isothermal SP yields reasonable constraints onM,R _NS, and distanceD. For instance, for the hydrogen photosphere we obtainedM=(1.0–2.1)M R _NS=(7.1–16.4) km ifD=11 kpc. If one postulatesM=1.4M , thenD=(8.5–13) kpc for hydrogen photosphere; if, besides,D=11 kpc, thenR _NS=(8.1–13.3) km. It follows also from the SP-interpretation that the photosphere radius may increase up to 20–30 km in maxima of the trailing bursts when the luminosity becomes close to the Eddington luminosity.     

Thermal bifurcation in the upper photosphere inferred from heterodyne spectroscopy of OH rotational lines

We have obtained low noise (S/N > 10³), high spectral resolution (/ 10 ⁶) observations of two pure rotation transitions of OH from the solar photosphere. The observations were obtained using the technique of optically null-balanced infrared heterodyne spectroscopy, and consist of center-to-limb line profiles of a = 1 and a = 0 transition near 12 m. These lines should be formed in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), and are diagnostics of the thermal structure of the upper photosphere. We find that the = 0R22(24.5)e line strengthens at the solar limb, in contradiction to the predictions of current one-dimensional photospheric models. Our data for this line support a two-dimensional model in which horizontal thermal fluctuations of order ±800 K occur in the region ₅₀₀₀ 10^–3–10^–2. This thermal bifurcation may be maintained by the presence of magnetic flux tubes, and may be related to the solar limb extensions observed in the 30–200 m region.Observations of the = 1R11(29.5)f line, at 885.643 cm^–1, show that it is anomalously weak in the photospheric spectrum. We argue that the source function in the core of this line has been substantially increased by interaction with the 9j-7i transition of Mgi at 885.524 cm^–1, which is itself too weak to appear in the disk center spectrum.Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

The abundance of chlorine in the Sun

The Cli line 8375.943 (4s ⁴P_5/2 – 4p ⁴D7/2) is identified in the solar spectrum. This is the first identification of a chlorine line in solar spectrum. The measured equivalent width (W = 0.8 mÅ) corresponds to an abundance log N(Cl) = 5.65 on the scale log N(H) = 12.00.     

Statistical survey of planetary nebulae: Distances,masses, and distribution in the galaxy

On the basis of empirical (D)-dependency at the frequency of 5 GHz constructed using 15 planetary nebulae with the independently measured distances (10^–171×10^–20 W m^–2 Hz^–1 ster^–1), we evaluated distances of 335 objects. Independent evidence of the correctness of the accepted scale are given. Then(D)-dependency is constructed and it is shown that atD<0.08 pc the mean electron density is higher than the one determined by the Seaton method. We showed that the filling factor diminishes with the increase of the PN diameter (1 atD0.08 pc and 0.2 atD0.4 pc). the ionized mass of 33 PNs is determined. With the diameter increase the ionized mass grows and atD0.4 pc reaches the valueM0.07M . We used the new distance scale when investigating the space distribution of PNs. The mean scale height =130±15 pc and the mean gradient of the change of surface densitym=0.37, which allowed us to estimate the total number of nebulae in the GalaxyN4×10⁴. We divided the PNs according to their velocities (withV _LSR>35 km s^–1 andV _LSR<35 km s^–1) and permitted us to confirm that the PN belong to different sub-systems of the Galaxy. The estimated local formation rate of PNs [=(4.6±2.2)×10^–12 pc^–3 yr^–1] is a little higher than the one of the white dwarfs. That can be explained by a large number of PNs having binary cores, which used in our sample. The statistical estimation of PN expansion velocity showed thatV _ex increases from 5–7 km s^–1 (atD0.03 pc) to 40–50 km s^–1 (atD0.8 pc).     

Evolution of low-mass close binaries and the problem of orbital period gap in cataclysmic variables

Evolution of close binary composed of a white dwarf primary and a Main-Sequence secondary has been calculated. Angular-momentum loss via gravitational radiation and magnetic stellar wind have been taken into account. We have found that magnetic stellar wind with a rate greater than (10^–10–10^–9)M yr^–1 is able to drive the evolution with mass exchange. If the time-scale of switch-off of wind when the primary becomes fully convective is not longer than 10⁶ yr, mass exchange interrupts due to a contraction of the secondary and the system becomes unobservable. Mass exchange resumes when components approach one another due to loss of momentum via gravitational radiation. The location and width of the thus-arising gap in the orbital periods are comparable to those observed.     

Propagation of the cosmic-ray iron group at intermediate energies

Elemental abundances of the VH group of cosmic radiation have been measured in the energy interval 250–550 MeV nucl^–1 in a balloon exposure at Sioux Falls (South Dakota) of a plastic detector LeXAN stack. The so obtained abundances have been extrapolated to the sources in the frame of the homogeneous model correcting for energy loss. After taking into account solar modulation, the best fit to model values has led to a escape mean free path _e = 5E ^–0.4 g cm^–2, whereE is the energy in GeV nucl^–1, forE>1 GeV nucl^–1, and a constant _e = 5 g cm^–2 forE1 GeV nucl^–1. When turning to the diffusion model, also including an energy loss term, a diffusion coefficientD=3×10²⁸ cm² s^–1 has been estimated.